We're getting right into the swing of things on Project Runway All-Stars, and after last week's punk challenge, we're on to the next task. The designers head to the Natural History Museum (sorry, the "American Museum of Natural History", if you want to be proper) to meet Alyssa, where she reveals that they'll be using insects and arachnids in their designs. They'll need to use the bugs' unique features and do it well - it's an avant-garde challenge that needs to "live and breathe", so they'll need to interact with some live insects (in jars, of course).

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

As last week's winner, Elena gets to choose which insect she wants to use first and goes with the lover grasshopper. Soon after, the others are set free in the room and there's a mad dash to get to the best bug. Mychael ends up with a horn worm, the tiger centipede goes to Korto, Jeffrey claims the hairy scorpion, Seth Aaron gets the hissing cockroach. Christopher, hilariously, gets "this one", failing to say the name of the insect, unlike everyone else. Melissa gets the Sri Lankan ornamental spider and Irina ends up with the bumblebee centipede. This should be an interesting one.

After a bit of time to sketch, the designers head to Mood to spend their $250 budget. It's a mad rush, but soon it's over to Parsons to the work room to get started. This time around, they've got a QVC accessory wall with lots of lovely shoes, bags and jewelry, which the designers raid before they even start working on their pieces. Elena in particular is stressing, as she lost her sketch before going to Mood and since it contained a list of all she meant to buy, she's not sure if she's purchased everything she'll need. Come on, Elena - get it together!

Before long, Zanna pops over to check in with everyone's progress - and boy, is she glad not to be stuck in the basement of Mood! She believes Mychael's piece is way too literal and is actually elimination-worthy. The fact that Elena has nothing at all done yet is concerning, but Zanna also warns her against being too obvious with her design. Jeffrey has an okay concept, but it's a lot of ideas in one so he'll really need to pare it down. Viktor is urged to stay romantic, Korto is questioned on her jacket and pants' potential wow factor, Christopher is given praise... mixed feedback, as you can tell.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

The next morning, things are pretty hectic as the models get hair and make-up done and the designers hustle to try and put finishing touches on their looks. Elena is in tears, Melissa is still pretty far behind... good to see that old habits die hard. Time is up, though, so they'll have to make it work. Speaking of making it work, does anyone else miss Tim Gunn?

The runway

Joining Georgina, Irina and Alyssa on the judging panel this week is season nine winner Anya Ayoung Chee, who has apparently met so much success but can't stop herself coming back to Project Runway. That sounded mean - it's nice to see her (I guess).

After each designer's look walks the runway, Irina, Elena and Melissa are to be critiqued this week. Korto and Seth Aaron are safe, while Michael, Jeffrey and Daniel are to stay on for critique. That means Viktor and Christopher are also safe. Well, they could have announced that in a less confusing order!

Irina's bumblebee centipede dress - which is a bit hard to describe other than as a very volumnious black number with a weird feather ring around her face - is nice, but almost a step too far for Georgina. Isaac wonders why she chose to use only black, while Anya loves the textures.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Daniel's brown gown looks sloppy, and Isaac wishes the large throat piece looked more flattering. The length is "terrible", as well. Georgina likes the attitude of the colour, while Alyssa has a problem with the proportions. Anya is not a fan of Daniel's choice of fabrics as it comes off looking slightly cheap.

Jeffrey's piece, based on the hairy scorpion, is really unique - his model has a hood on, a single red leg... it's all over. Isaac thinks it's a "gratuitious slap in the face" since if the model was drinking a cocktail, she wouldn't be able to. He believes avant garde shouldn't be mistaken for unwearable clothes, but Jeffrey insists it is wearable. Georgina feels that it all looks a bit clumsy, though it is elegant. Alyssa would never wear it ("except maybe the hood in the bedroom - too much information" - you got that right!), and Anya thinks she looks like she could be a dancer for Lady GaGa. Ouch.

Elena's dress is beautiful and perfectly avant garde, according to Georgina, and Isaac feels it's "influential" and perfectly proportioned. Anya is likewise impressed and feels it represents exactly what avant garde is. High praise for someone who pulled it together at the last minute.

Mychael's grey and green dress is avant garde to Georgina because the fabric looks almost like wool but then has the little peaks of the green around the shoulder piece. Isaac wrote down that the dress seems "expensive and strange" and feels that the length is very much like Chanel - very flattering. Anya calls it "gorgeous", while Alyssa simply says that it's "well played".

Melissa's Sri Lankan spider dress has an elegant cut-out and great proportions, but Georgina isn't sure how avant garde it is. Isaac loves the spidery straps but feels the back piece looks as though it was just something she found and stuck on at the last minute. Alyssa wanted so much more, as this seems less avant garde than even her punk outfit.

After much discussion, Mychael is declared the winner of this week's challenge. Well deserved! Irina is safe, as are Elena and Jeffrey. It comes down to Melissa and Daniel, and eventually Daniel is eliminated while Melissa will get one more chance to make something a bit more wow-worthy next week. Get with it, girl!